2-for-2!

Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name

My URL is mandizzleinreallife.blogspot.com, and my blog name is "Mandy in Real Life." I named my blog that because it's a play on the title of the film Colin and I saw on our first date, "Dan in Real Life," starring Steve Carrell. I figured that a blog would be an account of my life, so it fit.

The username mandyinreallife was taken, however, so I used my nickname, Mandizzle. That was the nickname I got in college, when my roommates and I had "-izzle" nicknames. My big, Vanessa, even gave me the nickname "Dizzled Pink" when I became an Alpha Phi Omega brother in college, since my favorite color is pink. :-)

Here goes nothing!

Day 1-A recent picture and 15 interesting facts

This is me at Fenway Park 7/13/11

15 facts about me:

1. I can only whistle one note. I can't whistle a tune to save my life.
2. I'm an avid Patriots fan, and I have been for as long as I can remember. You won't be able to sway my allegiance! I was there when we hardly won, I've been there when it was -20 with a wind chill! I'm NOT a fair-weather fan.
   
3. My graduating class from my public high school in rural Connecticut had 86 members. No wonder I wanted the "opposite of Cheers" for college: where no one knew my name!
4. I can't drive a stick shift. I'm motor-challenged!
5. I have recently become moderately obsessed with coupons.
6. I have learned that youtube.com can be a VERY valuable source for instruction when you're trying to teach yourself new knitting stitches... or how to crochet from the beginning! (I'd rather have my Mommadoo teach me, of course, but I'm a very visual learner and it's hard to learn new stitches over the phone. Boo to living so far away!)
7. As I'm writing this post, I'm finding I use parentheses too often, but that's what I get for being a language arts teacher, right?
8. I was obsessed - literally - with all things Disney during college. I was over at Walt Disney World at LEAST 3-5 times a month. I turned 21 there and drank around the world with my parents, who flew down to join my friends and me. You can't say that my parents aren't awesome!
9. I'm a grammar and punctuation freak. If you know me at all, this is no surprise.
10. Even though I didn't like it very much when my parents would make me read every informational sign and/or map when we went anywhere new while I was growing up, I now appreciate the ability to get my bearings with relative ease on maps and my craving for learning more about new places. Thanks and props to you, Mom and Dad!
11. I'm pretty opinionated; however, MOST of the time, I can understand why others could have a differing opinion, and I do my very best to accept their opinion and not be confrontational....99% of the time. I just can't stand idiocy.
12. I count things without realizing it, like steps, stairs, intersections, and lights.
13. I taught internationally in 2007. I can't wait to go back to the UK for the Olympics next year!
14. I've lived in 2 states and moved a total of 6 times. Since moving to Florida in 2004 for college, I've moved 5 of my total 6 times. I'm glad I own my house and I won't be moving for a while!
15. Saying goodbye to my family in CT has gotten harder each and every time I leave. I spend most of today crying on and off. I'm sure I got some weird looks as I sat on the plane in sunglasses, trying to look stoic, with tears streaming down my face.

Well, that's it! Here's to hoping I'll follow through with the rest of the challenge! :)

I'm Baaaa-aaack!

Hi there again, blog!

It's been a long time since I've updated you. I'm sorry you have been neglected! I've had a busy end-of-the-year with school (without going into details: I'll be at a new, way BETTER school than I was!)

My friend Summer has a great blog that she's starting up. You can find her here. She has a 30-day challenge meme she got from a friend. I think a 30-day challenge (or 60-day..or 90-day...who am I kidding? I'm not as good a blogger as my KatiePIC, who updates every day!)

So, without further adieu, here are the instructions for the 30-day challenge:

Day 1-A recent picture and 15 interesting facts
Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name
Day 3-Your first love
Day 4-Your parents
Day 5-Your siblings
Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7-Favorite movies
Day 8-A place you've traveled to
Day 9-A picture of your friends
Day 10-Something you're afraid of
Day 11-Favorite tv shows
Day 12- Celebrity Crush
Day 13-A picture of you last year and now and how have you changed since then?
Day 14-A picture you love
Day 15-Bible verse
Day 16- Favorite Quote
Day 17-Something you're looking forward to
Day 18-Something you regret
Day 19-Something you miss
Day 20-Nicknames
Day 21-Picture of yourself
Day 22-Favorite city
Day 23-Favorite vacation
Day 24-Something you've learned
Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 26-Picture of your family
Day 27-Pets
Day 28-Something that stresses you out
Day 29-Wishes
Day 30-Yet another picture

Happy reading!